On 26 July 2009, the Rev. Geoffrey Black was nominated by the search committee to be the next general minister and president of the UCC, to succeed the Rev. John H. Thomas who has served as general minister and president of the UCC since 1999.

Kershner additionally reported on another 27 June 2009 speech to synod delegates and visitors where Bishop Carlton Pearson, a former member of African American Pentecostal Bishops Conference (AAPBC) until declared by the AAPBC to be a heretic, told the assembly that his separation from the Pentecostal movement occurred when he "could not reconcile the absolute love of God for all” with the concept of God "who would eternally torture."

Pearson said that Charles Darwin had it right when he wrote that it is not the strongest species or the most intelligent species which survive, that it is the most adaptable species, saying: “What churches and individuals must do is manage the change and master the change. After all, shift happens."

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution on 30 June 2009 calling for "diversity/multi-cultural education" in public elementary schools that includes, "the experience of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, bi- sexual, transgender), individuals and families." The resolution additionally calls for aggressive opposition to parents trying to protect their children from LGBT indoctrination. The resolution calls for teaching the LGBT agenda alongside diversity teaching on racism and the acceptance of immigrant minorities.

"Teaching that behavior and relationships which are morally wrong to most Christian families, as well as families of the Islamic, Hindu and other religious traditions is normative, makes the public school an unsafe environment for our children. Mixing such a message with the legitimate concerns of racism and the acceptance of immigrating families and children is offensive, intellectually dishonest, and inappropriate. Diversity demands that public education respect the morality of all and protects the innocence of children."

Deliberations were conducted regarding sister-church relations with the Reformed Church in the Netherlands (RCN), and on related matters of Sabbath-keeping, divorce, and other theological, polity, and worship concerns.

The synod chose not to establish sister-church relations with the Reformed Church in the Netherlands Restored (RCNR), but chose to continue contact with the RCNR and to encourage them to discuss the RCNR’s issues and struggles of concern with the RCN in humility and love.

The synod voted to examine revisions being made to the CARCBook of Praise, especially the completely revised Psalter and those of the twenty-eight proposed additional hymns to be adopted by the CARC Synod 2010.

Churchman continued: "Women should be able to mourn the loss of an aborted fetus without having to confess anything. God…also rejoices that women facing unplanned pregnancies have the freedom to carefully choose the best option - birth, adoption or abortion - for themselves and their families. The wording of this liturgy focuses solely on guilt and sin instead of the grief and healing that may accompany a very difficult but appropriate decision to terminate a pregnancy.”

Section Four and Five of Canon Eight in Title II, states "God, and not man, is the creator of human life. The unjustified taking of life is sinful. Therefore, from conception to natural death, all members and clergy are called to protect and respect the sanctity of every human life. The Church is called upon to show Christ-like compassion to those who have fallen into sin, encouraging them to repent and receive forgiveness, and offering the ministry of healing to all who suffer physically or emotionally as a result."

The Slovakian Parliament, by a vote of eighty-seven to seven, adopted new pre-abortion laws mandating counseling, a three-day waiting period, and parental consent before a minor can have an abortion.

The U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights coordinated the efforts of worldwide pro-abortion groups to lobby the Slovakian legislators to reject the new laws, but the international pro-life group Familiokratos Coalition organized the efforts of eighty pro-life groups worldwide in contacting every member of the Slovakian Parliament, urging them to enact the new laws.

The rally’s keynote speaker was the Rev. Walter Hoye, II, who spent nineteen days in jail after being arrested for standing on a sidewalk near an Oakland, Californiaabortion clinic with a sign that read, "Jesus loves you and your baby, let us help you."

SAH founder, Jeff White, said, "It seems bizarre and surreal that teachers, people whose love for children is supposedly second only to that of their parents, would support the mass killing of babies. The Abortion Holocaust has also eliminated multitudes of jobs and careers for teachers and school workers. Why do NEA members tolerate this from their so-called leaders?"

Pro-Life opinion editor Gingi Edmonds comments, "An overwhelming majority of NEA members, 82%, believe their union leaders should take no official position on abortion. Regardless of their personal political views, NEA members expect the leadership to fight for things like better teacher pay and higher standards in school; not to support pro-abortion candidates and justices who argue for killing the next generation of students."

Reformed Presbyterian pastor and director of the Christian Defense Coalition the Rev. Pat Mahoney on 24 June 2009 excoriated U.S. President Barrack Hussein Obama for not withdrawing invitations for Iranian diplomats to attend 4th of July celebrations at U.S. embassies around the world, considering that the Iranian government continues to brutalize, beat, jail, and murder their own people as they peacefully cry for human rights and fair elections.

Mahoney comments: "It is an absolute disgrace that the Obama Administration has refused to rescind their invitation to Iranian diplomats to attend 4th of July celebrations at U.S. embassies around the world.”

"President Obama has chosen to ignore the sacrifices of people like Neda, the twenty-six year old student, who gave her life for the cause of freedom. What kind of message is this sending to these heroic young people who are only seeking their God given rights for social justice and liberty? I also wonder what kind of message this is sending to the leaders of Iran who are being rewarding for oppressing and brutalizing their own people?”

"What makes this even more troubling is the fact that it is a 4th of July celebration. Think of the tragic irony of this situation. President Obama is inviting Iranian leaders who brutalize and murder their own people for seeking liberty and freedom, to a holiday celebrating America's historic victory seeking liberty and freedom.”

Roman Catholic sister Dr. Elizabeth Liebert has been named as dean of San Francisco Theological Seminary(SFTS),replacing the Rev. Jana Childers, who is stepping down 30 June 2009 after nearly eight years as dean. Liebert has taught at SFTS for more than twenty years.

Bishop László Tőkés of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Romania on 16 June 2009 was awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom is awarded to international heroes of freedom.